Arnoud van Doorn
Arnoud van Doorn (born 18 March 1966, The Hague)[1] is a former far-right politician from the anti-islamic Dutch Freedom Party (PVV) of Geert Wilders.[2] In December 2011, the party broke with Van Doorn.[3] He decided to become a Muslim a few years later, after learning about the teachings of Islam.[4] Until May 2014, he served as a member of The Hague City Council for the PvdE, a political party based on Islam. At the moment he is President of the European Da'wah Foundation, and Ambassador of Celebrity Relations for the Canadian Da'wah Association in Europe. He is a Member of the Board and Official Representative for the PvdE in the city council of The Hague.[citation needed]
In February 2014 Van Doorn was sentenced to pay a fine on leaking secret documents to the press, possession of an illegal flare gun, and for selling soft drugs to minors, in 2014 it was raised to an extra 240 hours of community service. Van Doorn claimed to have sold the soft drugs in order to catch a drug dealer, although the judge called his explanation "very implausable".[5]
Conversion to Islam[edit]
Van Doorn announced his conversion to Islam in April 2012. Soon after, he performed Hajj to Saudi Arabia and visited the Prophet's Mosque.[6] He said that the overwhelming reaction of Muslims around the world against the film Fitna made him interested to learn more that led to his decision to convert to Islam.[7] He stated, "Right now I am still feeling regret for having distributed the film. I have a responsibility to correct the mistakes that I've done in the past." citation needed Later his eldest son, Iskander Amien De Vries,[8] followed him in converting to Islam in 2014.[9][10]
Manifestations of anti-Semitism[edit]
After Jewish businessman Steve Maman paid for the release of 140 Yazidi and Christian women and girls captured by ISIS.[11] Van Doorn responded on Twitter with: "To sell with a profit?"[12]
After this tweet, various publishers, including Esther Voet, editor of the New Israelite Weekly and Leon Verdonschot, columnist for the Nieuwe Revu, called Van Doorn an anti-Semite. Van Doorn denied it was anti-Semitism.[12][13]
In July 2016, Van Doorn called the failed coup in Turkey a "Zionist-Western conspiracy".[14][15]
References[edit]
- ^ List of PVV candidates, 2010 elections
- ^ "Arnoud van Doorn: from anti-Islamic film-maker to hajj pilgrim". The Guardian UK. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ (in Dutch)Haagse PVV breekt met raadslid, Binnenlands Bestuur, 14 December 2011
- ^ "From Wilders to Muhammad: Former Freedom Party vice-chairman converts to Islam". The Amsterdam Herald. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ (in Dutch)Werkstraf en boete voor raadslid Arnoud van Doorn, 14 February 2014, Algemeen Dagblad
- ^ "Former Anti-Islam Film-Maker, Arnoud Van Doorn, Peforms [sic] Hajj After Becoming Muslim". Huffington Post UK. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ "‘I am sorry, O Prophet…’". Saudi Gazette. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ MUHAMMAD JAWED (25 April 2014). "Van Doorn’s son embraces Islam". Arab News. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
- ^ "Van Doorn's son embraces Islam". Arabnews.com. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ "Son of distributor of anti-Islam film accepts Islam". Khaleejtimes.com. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ "A Small Non-Profit Is Actually Organizing Raids On ISIS To Free Sex Slaves". The Daily Caller. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ a b Esther Voet: "Gemeenteraadslid Arnoud van Doorn is een antisemiet; by Gerard van den Ijssel, 17 August 2015; Den Haag FM
- ^ Arnoud van Doorn is een smerige antisemiet By Leon Verdonschot; Nieuwe Revu; 25 August 2015
- ^ van Doorn's personal Facebook page
- ^ Waarom heeft Amsterdam nog geen nieuwe middelbare islamitische school?; Het Parool; Lorianne van Gelder and Bas Soetenhorst; 27 January 2017
